Image provided by: Clackamas Community College; Oregon City, OR
About Cougar print. (Oregon City, Oregon) 1976-1977 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 13, 1977)
rchitectural barriers discussed iandicappers meet with administrators A By Dale Newton Staff Writer [Eliminating all the architectural barriers it exist for handicapped students at Clack- las Community College would cost thou- ds of dollars, but eliminating some equal chai enging barriers-in the area of com- :pnication—didn't cost a dime. Last!week CCC Dean of Students, Len bnroe, held a meeting of the problems of I ndicapped students on campus. "We want [get input from you about some of our ilities," he began, "and some of the . ngs we could do to aid or assist you." Of tiie thirty people attending the meet- g, 3 third were using wheelchairs, canes [crutches. The rest were faculty members, udents and staff with an interest in the [ue. Responses to the costly dilemma of iminating architectural barriers were nu- erous specific and reflected much thought. "If I were a handicapped person, the ‘[st thing I'd want to do is establish my pepei)dence," said Associated Student Gov- [nment President Michael Ayers. He pointed it that the design of the bookstore, cafe- ria turnstiles and bathrooms made inde- Bdence physically impossible for a per- m in a wheelchair. In representing themselves, the handi pped students offered ideas ranging from e far reaching and expensive to the sim- eand inexpensive. "There needs to be at least one door in ery building equipped with either an elec- Ionic eye or a pneumatic pad--and no door King," said Don Bixter. The heavy doors Jd door casings at majn building entrances e difficult barriers for those in wheel lairs he said. "I had to quit because of heavy doors nd carrying my books all day. There should alockers," said one elderly woman. [ Some participants in the discussion listed jinor details that posed major physical azards for them. The floor wax once used n a ¡ramp in Barlow Hall made it too ippery to be used safely, many trailers iave a difficult drop from the door to the amp and the walkway to one Orchard Cen- er science building is graded too steeply for wheelchairs. ■Others offered suggestions with smaller Bcetags. Retired Senior Volunteer Pro fam (RSVP) Coordinator, Judy Smith, asked pout posting signs to help newcomers in ocating elevators. Many agreed that the ■ndicapped aren't provided with enough ■formation about facilities or services avail- ible to them. ■ At the close of the meeting Monroe in dicated he would bring these items to the attend; 1 of the Board of Education. He was-scheduled to give a report on the needs and rights of disabled students at the board's monthly meeting on Jan. 12. I He stated that board members were "very concerned" about this issue, stemming from last fall's controversy over the status of art major Bonnie Nelson, confined to a wheelchair and unable to attend classes on the second floor of the Smucker's Building. He anticipated that the nine board repre sentatives are now ready to commit some money to improving the lot of handicapped students. Joining Monroe in the presentation were Alf Lair, Director of Planning and Oper ations and Don Fisher, Facilities Planning and Development Officer. These men recent ly completed a study on the fitness of school facilities in serving the handicapped. They found that although the buildings meet all state standards that existed at the time of construction, it would cost $250,000 or more to meet standards set for new buildings. Monroe explained that the school attor ney has advised him that "unless we start to remodel extensively or make changes, our buildings are up to code. We have no programs to make the old buildings meet the new standards, and we're under no deadline." The board and staff say they are moti vated by humanitarian as well as legal and monetary concerns. Whatever money is avail able to spend on improving the situation will be spent. No amount exists in the 1976-77 budget for that purpose, however, and it may be that funds will lie extremely limited. Lair said that state aid for architectural improvements on behalf of the handicapped is a high priority item during the current session of the legislature. Photo by Brian Snook Len Monroe discusses architectural barriers and how they affect handicapped students at a meeting devoted to that topic held last week at Clackamas Community College. C lackamas communîty COLLEGE ARCHIVES